Performance
Score Breakdown
New York City
Dallas
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Dallas is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
94% higher compared to New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: New York City's average rent is
140% higher than Dallas's.
| Metric | New York City | Dallas | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,382 | $1,412 | +140% |
| Groceries | $520 | $450 | +16% |
| Utilities | $370 | $281 | +32% |
| Transport | $130 | $126 | +3% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $135 | +85% |
| Monthly Total | $4,652 | $2,404 | +94% |
| Cost Index | 178 | 101 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 66% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Dallas delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in New York City is estimated at
$61,000 vs $96,970 in Dallas.
| Metric | New York City | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $100,877 | $60,900 |
| Salary Needed | $61,000 | $96,970 |
| Purchasing Power | 56,672 idx | 60,297 idx |
| Household Income | $80,483 | $70,518 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | New York City | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 63.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Dallas has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
8,500 minutes (142 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | New York City | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 43 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 88.0/10 | 55.0/10 |
| Walkability | 89.0/10 | 60.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 167.60 | 41.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
— approximately 6.4x the population of Dallas.
From a growth perspective, Dallas is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Dallas has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | New York City | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,585,000 | 1,336,440 |
| Pop. Growth | % | 0.52% |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 33.4 |
| Unemployment | 4.90% | 4.30% |
| GDP | $1,354.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Dallas
Advantages
Violent crime in Dallas dropped by 12% in 2025, indicating an improving safety landscape.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is a leader in economic growth, ranking highly for job creation and business investment.
Dallas is recognized as a top city for dining out, offering affordable options for mid-range meals.
Texas has no state income tax, which can lead to higher take-home pay for residents.
The city boasts a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, ranking 27th globally for startups in 2026.
Drawbacks
Property crime remains a significant challenge in Dallas, particularly in certain neighborhoods.
Utility costs in Dallas are higher than the national average, primarily due to electricity expenses.
Dallas experiences notable traffic congestion, with commuters spending considerable time in traffic.
Despite overall metro growth, the city of Dallas experienced a slight population decline in 2025.
While public transit exists, high car dependency is a reality for navigating the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
New York City
#16New York, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/10
Walkability
89.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
Dallas
#1Texas, USA
85.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,412
Avg Salary
$60,900
Cost Index
101
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
55.0/10
Walkability
60.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.52%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
80
Business
88
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